All Blacks rookie Akira Ioane opens up on how he almost gave up on rugby before being selected for his first All Blacks start.
Akira Ioane had a career year in 2020. After years of criticism and need for improvement, he finally took the next and necessary step. The Blues loose forward spoke with Alex Chapman on his last year and where he's determined to get better.
Akira Ioane just seems different.
Physically, it'sobvious. When watching him train with the Blues under the scorching sun, he seems more explosive, less out of breath when having to continuously run.
As the Blues run drills and simulate match situations, Ioane wants the ball, as always, but on defence, he's more steady and sure of himself. He's leaner too - but there's still plenty of muscle there.
But when speaking, there's a different presence to him. The tag 'what could've been' is no longer dragging him down. He's relaxed and more willing to speak. He pauses to think how he wants to answer questions, and corrects himself when he doesn't like the way he's said something.
"I'm pretty proud, but it wasn't just me," he answers when asked about his mental resilience, something that a lot of his teammates and coaches have identified as a big area of growth for the 25-year-old.
"I'm obviously the one that changed it, but I had good backing behind me - a good bunch of boys, my partner, family - so bouncing ideas off them and them giving me the hard word that I needed, turned it all around."
Akira Ioane in training during a Blues Super Rugby Aotearoa media opportunity at Blues HQ on February 02, 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo / Getty Images)
2020 was a year which began like others for Ioane, with criticism, questions over his fitness and work ethic, and an inability to secure a regular, starting spot. Then he proved his doubters wrong, with a man-of-the-match performance against Argentina, in a game which clinched the Tri Nations for the All Blacks. It was just his second test.
"It was a year of ups and downs. At the start of the year, things weren't going my way, and that's all good, but then going into Super Rugby Aotearoa, after lockdown, I sort of took my chance and it was up from then. There were a lot of lessons, and a lot to be happy with, but it wasn't the ideal start.
"This year, it's just about being on top of everything… my eating habits, my training, and relaxing when I need to, rather than rugby 24/7 - which sent me down the rabbit hole."
Ioane's open to any suggestions over relaxation. Time with friends and family, PlayStation, watching movies, and surprisingly, golf, are among his preferred options.
It's hard to believe that the man who is 194 centimetres and 113 kilograms finds solace in striding the fairways, chipping out of bunkers, and gracefully and subtly putting greens.
"I'm one of what they call beginners. I hit the odd good shot, and it keeps me coming back.
"I'm not really that great. I don't have a short game, don't have a long game, but I enjoy it. It gets my mind off rugby and I have good laughs with the boys."
Akira Ioane of the All Blacks (R) competes in the lineout during the 2020 Tri-Nations match between the Argentina Pumas and the New Zealand All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images.
Ioane identifies last year's first lockdown as the moment he decided to take action in an attempt to achieve some sought-after consistency.
"I took it upon myself to get back in shape, and hopefully if I did, then I'd be playing the rugby I knew I was capable of.
"There's always that backing yourself, but you need to lay the foundations first. You don't want to back yourself and then you have nothing to fall back on. I was just lucky enough to get a shot last year and I took it with both hands and never looked back. But this year's a different year."
For Ioane, 2021 is simply about just enjoying rugby.
"That's when I tend to play my best rugby, when I'm not overdoing things. We built something pretty special last year, but we can't rest on that. This year's a different year, a lot of new and different boys, so just building those relationships and enjoying the grind over the next three weeks before the season starts."
